Impact of Transnational Migration on Sibling Relationships: Insights from Left-behind Siblings in Türkiye

Sibling relationships are among the most enduring and significant connections individuals experience, often lasting longer than any other family bond. These relationships are unique in their ascribed and relatively equal nature, rooted in a shared history. Siblings provide emotional support, companionship, and, at times, caregiving, with their roles evolving throughout the life course. Literature on adult sibling relationships has generally highlighted the importance of geographical proximity. However, in transnational families, migration often transforms these relationships due to the physical distance between siblings. While migration can separate siblings across borders, their bonds often remain strong, continuing to provide crucial emotional and practical support. Siblings play a vital role in maintaining family ties across distances, facilitating the continuation of familial responsibilities, and providing stability for both those who migrate as well as those who remain behind. As global mobility increases, understanding sibling dynamics within transnational families becomes key to exploring how families navigate the challenges of separation and maintain their connections across borders. This study focuses on the ways adult sibling relationships adapt to the complexities caused by migration of one child within Turkish transnational families. Through in-depth interviews with left-behind siblings from Türkiye, it examines how sibling relationships are maintained across borders, how caregiving duties for older parents are negotiated, and how these dynamics impact the broader family structures. Additionally, it explores how the support from left-behind siblings impacts the lives of migrant siblings and facilitate their integration into new countries. The study also highlights how sibling dynamics are shaped by factors such as gender, age, and varying migration experiences. By focusing on a relatively less studied aspect—sibling relationships between migrants and those who stay behind—this research aims to contribute to the broader literature on transnational families.